Yes, a grandiose wedding in Grand Cayman is totally doable, but it's not the only way it needs to be done. Especially when the alternative involves a remote beach, the most incredible macramé and floral chuppah we've ever seen, a lush lounge for the barefoot+guitar-armed groom to serenade his new wife, and a selection of sweets and savories that any new couple would gladly want to keep all to themselves. Direction Event Planning pulled everything together for this stunning elopement shoot, and we're about ready to follow the 'this way to "I Do"' sign all the way to the Caribbean.

The couple who starred in this styled shoot had recently gotten married in Cayman, and they did it BIG. Interestingly enough, when they were asked what they treasured about their wedding and what they might have done differently, they were both quick to say how they would have savored and distilled those 'just us' moments more. To have more time zeroing in on each other, and truly living in the moment on the day they got married. With the help of Direction Event Planning, Jenna Leigh Photography, and a rockstar roster of local talent, they got their wish. Scroll down to see some highlights from this unbelievable day, and make sure to check out the full gallery from☝️, we're [dough]nuts about it!

The itch for intimacy Inspiration

From Amanda Jane at Direction Event Planning: The idea behind this shoot was to display the natural beauty and intimacy of the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman truly is a magical island to live on, visit and celebrate. There are so many incredible venues and resources available to host the perfect wedding celebration. The stigma around Cayman is that in order to get married here, you need to have a large, grandiose wedding and even though this is absolutely achievable, there are also many other options. We find nowadays that a lot of couples are opting to have smaller more intimate weddings/events and that private experiences such as elopements are in high demand and we love this! At Direction Event Planning, we pride ourselves on having a company that works with local businesses and vendors to create green/eco-friendly events that are unique and a strong reflection of our couples personalities and style....We were blessed to work with an amazing couple who recently experienced their own wedding, which was a large affair. We spoke with them about how amazing that day was and if there were things they could adjust what would that be. As we've heard from most couples, it was the moments of being fully present with each other and embracing their favorite things in a relaxed, intimate environment that that they loved so much. So, that's what we created in a place that they're both fond of, a beach in Cayman.

And suddenly, the beach was just about them

The shoot took place on a public beach called Spotts Beach. This beach is fully accessible to the public, and is the home to many weddings each year. We took a tiny trek just down this beach to a space that is completely remote and private, yet still available to everyone. We had a cascading set of natural stone steps that led down onto the beach - and here, we had the most stunning macramé and flora chuppah, created by The Flower Dell, waiting for our brides arrival. The bride and groom wore traditional wedding attire, but chose to be barefoot and relaxed. All of the details were soft and casual, yet classic and traditional in order to create a perfectly-balanced wedding experience.

Lounges for the lovers

Close by, we had two lounge areas, each providing a special space for the couple to relax and enjoy each other's company. The first vignette had a vintage couch and side tables adorned in local living greenery that was placed in recycled glass bottles. Plant Based Studio is a local company that grows and styles these breathtaking living plants to add beautiful elements to any space. In addition, we had a guitar there to indulge the groom any time he wanted to play and allow the two to truly be present, share passion and embrace. The cake provided by Scratch Gourmet was a boho masterpiece and a special element to honor a touch of tradition, but the hand-painted macarons and gourmet doughnuts were a comfort food that created so much joy and laughter. At one point, our bride said "I want to marry this doughnut" and she meant it ....these treats created such a child-like joy that made it so special and personal.

We also created a soft picnic area with a charcuterie board and fresh berries. This space what an environment where the beautiful couple could really lay back and just be present. It was softly-shaded with ivory silk to protect from the warm sun and covered in pillows to not only look beautiful, but feel beautiful too. When the day started, the sun was shining and the energy was high. As the day went on, the sunset ushered in a soft romance to slow down, and as night came, the space became candle-lit and romantic. This small, intimate space was designed to create an experience that would blend all of the aspects of a traditional wedding, but in a totally unconventional way. This fun and joyful couple had a true wedding experience tailored to their personalities and joy for life and each other, and the space celebrated the diversity and beauty of Cayman weddings.